Piano-player exhaust and regulating mechanism.



M. CLARK. PIANO RLAYER EXHAUST AND REGULATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. I9I5. Patented May 30, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M CLARK PIANO PLAYER EXHAUST AND REGULATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. I9I5.

Patented May 30, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

w M. CLARK. PIANO PLAYER EXHAUST AND REGULAHNG MECHANISM.

0 m P w 0 FW @Zi Patented May 30 M. CLARK. PIANO PLAYER EXHAUST AND REGULATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. I9l5.

25 showing said mechanism as it is UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, A SSIGNOR TO MELVTLLE CLARK PIANO COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PIANO-PLAYER EXHAUST AND REGULATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1916.

Application filed March 5, 1915. Serial No. 12,319.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MELVJLLE CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Piano-Player Exhaust and Regulating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of exhaust and controlling mechanism for a neumatically-operated player piano, an R particularly it is designed to afford such improved mechanism in a form adapted to be mounted in a players bench.

It consists in the elements and features of construction shown and described as indi cated in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a'vertical section "of a players bench containing the mechanism constituting this invention shown in elevation partly Sectional looking toward the piano. Fig. 2 is a similar view seen lookin away from the piano. Fig. 3 is a vertica 33, on Fig. 1. Fig. is 'a detail horizontal section e line, 5-5, on Fig. 1. Fig. 6

longitudinal section of ashowing the exhaust mechanism and supporting andoperating parts in front elevation, mounted in the piano casing, substantially in the. same is a vertical manner as. they are shown in Fig. 1 and-Fig.

' 2, mounted in the bench. Fig.

transverse sectionof an air trunk conneca adapted for mountin able proportions to a apt 'it. to constitute a mounted on 7 is a detail 8 is an axial section of the same. Fig. 9 is a section at line 9-9 on Fig. 2; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric'swit'ch box.

The umping mechanism, or the exhaust mechanism, herein show-n and to be detion. Fig.

scribed, is in its general structure adapted to be mounted-in any be mounted in the vlower part of :1. Plano sort of casing, andcan casing if so desired, an'dit is so shown in Fig. '6; but it is particularly designed and p iayers bench, or in a 'casi'n an comprising a part of a payers bench;

and it will first be described in connection,

at the line, 44,-on F i 3. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section at t porbellows, respectively,

I inclosing the bellows '20, 21, of these in a casing of suits. v

n'the opposite direction nected by an air .ti'unk,fl 28.

with theplayers bench which is shown in the drawings as a rectangular casing comprising end walls, 1, 1, a bottom,'2, a front wall, 3, and rear wall, preferably made as swinging doors, 4, 4, and the top or seat board, 5. The exhaust mechanism shown is designed to be operated by an electric motor shown at 6, mounted upon the bottom. Preferably, in order to deaden the sound, the mount, or support for this motor, comprises a base member, 7, having end and middle ribs, 8, 8 and 9, across which there ,is stretched a piece v I which the motor is supported by springs, 11, coiled around bolts, 12', which take through the foot lugs-6, and extend through the springs and through the leather and. through wooden cross bars, 6", below the belt and are provided below said cross .bars with nuts, 6, by which a limited degree. of tension is put part of the present invention, being substantially covered by my Patent No. 1,013,862, granted January 9, 1912.

The drawings show nections from the motor 'for rotating a crank-shaft, 15, journaledin hangers, 16, 16, and having a single crank, 17, connected by pitmen, moving members, 20 and 21, of two similar double-acting pumper bellows, each comprising two fixed walls, 22, 23, between which the moving walls, 20 and 21,'ofthe vibrate, being connectbelt,

the belt, which is further This' method of supporting speed-reducing c0n- 18 and 19, respectively, with the ed therewith by the bellows sides, 24,24, for

chambers. Said fixed walls have air outlet ports, 23;, controlled by valve, 22*, seating against the entrance of air. The chambers on opposite sides of the respective moving or vibrating members, pumper bellows communicate with a common exhaust chamber, 25, at what may-be called the heel through ports which are valves, 26, 26, opening to permit the air topassfrom said exhaust chamber into the respectively, 'and seating pumper chambers, to prevent the air passing back into The two exhaust chambers, 25, 25, are conthe exhaust chamber.

of thebellows, controlled by These two similar double-acting pumper devices are mounted respectively upon two walls of the casing which are at right angles to each ers,

' tion, 30, above mentioned l'eadin exhaust chamber,

their inner ends openwithin the air trunk other, and, as shown,

* them in said angle,

, from the piano casing.

which is operated by B, which engages upon one end wall and the top wall, the crank-shaft, 15, being parallel to said walls and to the angle between and thereby being adapted to operate both the pumper bellows and give them alternate movement,-that is, to cause the same phases of their movement to alternate,-by means of ,a single crank, as shown and described.

From the exhaust chamber of that bellows which is mounted upon the end wall of the casing, and which has its heel at the lower end corner of the casing, an air trunk connection, 30, is provided which leads through the casing and is adapted for exterior attachment thereto. of a flexible air trunk, 29, which may lead to the pneumatic action in the pianowhich is to be served by this exhaust mechanism when the lat ter is mounted as shown and described in the players bench or other casing detached 1,136,656, datedA'ril 20, 1915, and which need not be descri ed here further than to point out that itcompris'es two motor pneumati'cs, B, B shown in the drawings) rotate a gear wheel, a rack, B and that this is extended and connected toa lever, 25", fulcrumed at 25 on the casing, and connected with the stem, 26, of the valve, (not shown) which controls communication of the air trunk, 35, with-. the rerack, B

'lief box and mufiler, 36.- Thismechanism,

B, is controlled in .its operation .by air ducts, 31, 31," which lead to nipples, 32. and 33,- which are mounted in the air trunk connec- 25, of the vertically-positioned pumper out throu piano. These nipples, 32 and 33', having connection, 30, are adapted to beconnected by air tubes s milar to the tubes, 31, which may extend in an air leading from the bench' tothe piano casing, and to be connectediwitha similar fitting that is, a fitting similar towthe connection,

30, having the nipples, 31, 31 ,''mounted on' which by connections -(not.

from the Y gh the casing for connection by a -proper,a1r trunk with the trunk. to provided said connection,

casing connect the piano casing, from the inner end of which nipples proper air tube connections will extend to the tracker ducts or manually-controlled devices for controlling atmospheric communication of said ducts, and thereby operating the primary pneumatics which form part of the mechanism, B, to cause the motor pneumatics, B, to operate the mechanism for moving the rock, B. These connections mounted on the piano casing are not shown, being identical in construction with the fitting, 30, having.

the nipples, 32, 33, mounted on the piano bench casing, as described. I

The electric circuit wires for energizing the motor are shown at 40, 40, leading from a switch device, -11, mounted on the bench casing and most conveniently positioned at the upper forward left-hand corner, said fitting extendingto the. outer surface of the casing for receiving the usual plug connection with an exteriorly-located source of electric energy. This switch device comprises a lever, 42, fulcrumed on a bracket, 43,- mounted on the right hand end of the bench casing, said lever having two push rods, 44 and 44 connected to it at opposite sides of the fulcrum, eachextending out through the end of the bench casing, so as to be accessible for pushing in one-or the other to shift the switch in one direction or the other. It is designed and necessary that the switch device should 'be operated manually for throwing on the current to. start the motor, but it is adapted to be op.- erated either manually or automatically for opening the switch and shutting off current.

The manual operation for that-purpose has already been ind'cated. For automatic.op-.

Ierationto openthe switch,'there is provided a motor pneumatic, 455, mounted upon the right'hand end wall of the-bench casing, having connected with it a lever extension arm, 46, which projects in proximity to lever upon collapse of the pneumatic, and by that movement to move the lever in direction for openlng the switch. The motor pneumatic, 45, is controlled by a primary pneumatic, 48, which is contained within an exhaust box, with the exhaust by .an air tube, 51,- with said motor pneumatic, 45; Said'primary pneumatic, 48, is controlled by=a. duct, 52, leading from said to the nipples,

30, and having its inner end open'fwithin players bench to the piano and in the piano ed to the inner endof a siml V I the rearwardly extended end of the lever, 42,

in position to encounter and actuate that .49, connected by a tube, 50, chamber-,25, of the honzonta lly-pos1tioned pumper, and

rimary pneumatic to a nipple, 53,mounted similarly 32 and 33, in the connection l, 5

I adapted to receive a flexb. ble tube to extend out throughthe air trunk to be provided" lead ng across from the larnipple in a similar fitting, as above described mounted on the piano casing and having its inner end leading to the tracker duct which is to be provided for automatically controlling the switch to cut off the current upon the conclusion of the playing.

The speed-reducing connections between the motor and the crank-shaft comprise the counter shaft, 60, journaled in a rocking frame or bracket, 61, fulcrumed at 62, near the bottom of the casing, and having an arm, 63, whose slotted end receives a threaded post, 64, on which are adjusting nuts, 65 and 66, above and below said engaged ends of the arm, 63, by which said frame, 61, is adjusted by rocking it over its fulcrum, 62, to carry the shaft, 60, toward and from the motor shaft. On the shaft, 60, there is a large pulley, 65, connected by a belt, 66, with the pulley, 67, of the motor, and a smaller pulley, 68, connected by a belt, 69, with a pulley, 7 O, on the crank shaft. It will be noticed that the relative positions of the three shafts, the motor shaft, the shaft, 60, and the crank shaft, 15, are such that the rocking of the frame, 61, to carry the shaft,

60, operates simultaneously to tighten or slacken both the belt, 66 and 69. In a mechanism for such a purpose, and particularly in devising such mechanism for having it contained in the very limited space conveniently available for it, either in the piano casing or in the players bench casing, as shown, especially in view of the fact that such a mechanism must be'attended to by persons who are not expert mechanics, it is of great importance that the expedient for keeping the parts properly adjusted to insure continuous and uniform transmission of the power of the motor to the crank shaft should be simple and accessible, and such as to require the minimum exercise of mechanical judgment in operating them; and such a device is that shown for adjusting the belts.

I claim 1. In combination with a players bench forming a casing, an exhaust device mounted within the casing, an exhaust-tension-controlling device also mounted within the casing; air tube connections for operating the tension-controlling device; an air trunk connection from the exhaust device adapted for attachment of a flexible tube to lead away from the bench, said trunk connection having means leading into it for attaching the air tube connections from the tensiomcontrolling device, and for connecting also air tubes leading out of said exhaust trunk connectim and away from the bench; whereby the w. haust pipe which leads awa from the bench may contain the air tubes or operating the exhaust tension controlling device.

2. In combination. with a players bench forming a casing; an exhaust device mounted within the casing; an electric motor also mounted within the casing for operating the exhaust device, an electric switch for controlling the motor; a pneumatic device for operating the switch; two separate tubes leading to the outside of the bench casing, one being an air tube for controlling said pneumatic device and the other being an exhaust trunk connection from the exhaust device leading to the outside of the bench casing.

3. In combination with a players bench forming a casing, an exhaust device mounted within the casing; a motor also mounted within the casing for operating the exhaust device; an electric switch for controlling the motor; a pneumatic device for operating the switch; an air tube for controlling said pneumatic device; a connection from the exhaust device extending out through the wall of the casing, adapted atthe outer end for connecting a flexible pipe to form an exhaust trunk leading away from the casing, and connected'at the inner side of the casing wall with the exhaust device, said connection having means for connecting the air tube from said pneumatic device inside the casing wall, and also for connecting an air tube to lead away from said connection outside the casing wall.

4. In combination with a players bench forming a casing, and, mounted in and supported upon such casing, a rotary motor; a crank shaft driven by the motor; two pumpers having their exhaust members communicating each operated by the crank shaft, a relief device communicating with the pumpers; air tubes for controlling the operation of the relief device; an air trunk connection leading from a pumper exhaust chamber; and adapted for attachment of a flexible tube to lead away from the bench, nipples leading into said air-trunk connections and interiorly and exteriorly open for attachment of air tubes thereto, said air tubes being connected with the outer ends of said nipples.

5. In combination with a players bench forming a casing and mounted in such casing, an electric motor, a crank shaft operated by the motor, -two pumpers having their exhaust chambers communicating, operating connections to both said pumpers from the crank shaft, an electric switch for controlling the motor, a motor pneumatic for operating said switch, an exhaust box having air connections with a pumper exhaust chamber, a primary pneumatic contained in said exhaust box, a duct connecting the exhaust box with the motor pneumatic, a valve controlling said duct op erated by the primary pneumatic, an air tube leadingto said primary pneumatic, an air trunk connection from the pumper exhaust chamber leading to the outside of the bench casing, and an air tube connection from the primary pneumatic said air tube also leading to the outside of said casing.

6. In combination Wlth a players bench constituting a casing, and contained within and mounted upon such casing, an electric motor, pumping mechanism operated by said motor, an air trunk connection for said switch engaging therewith for opening the switch to disconnect the motor, manually operable means extending to the exterior of the casing for moving the switch, a box mounted in the casing having air connection with the exhaust chamber of the pumpers and with said motor pneumatic, a valve which controls the last mentioned gonnection, a primary pneumatic in said exhaust box which controls said valve, an air tube controlling said primary pneumatic, a

the outside of the nipplemounted in said air trunkconnection and exteriorly and interiorly open for connection of an air tube thereto, the exterior end of said nipple being connected with the air tube from the primary pneumatic.

7. In combination with a bench forming a casing; an exhaust device mounted within the casing; an electric motor also mounted in the casing for operating the exhaust device; an electric switch for controlling the motor; a pneumatic device for operating the switch; two segzrate tubes leading to nch' casing, one being an, air-inlet tube for controlling said pneumatic device, and the other being an exhaust trunk connection from the exhaust device leading-to the outside ofthe bench casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 1st day of March, 1915.

' MELVILLE CLARK.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, EDNA M. MACINTOSH. 

